System and method for providing on-line user-assisted Web-based advertising

Abstract

A system and method for providing on-line advertising is presented. An interface guiding on-line advertising creation is presented. An advertisement is created from at least one of user inputs and stored data and includes information describing at least one item. An advertising creative is generated in association with the advertisement and includes a hyperlink reference to the advertisement. The advertisement is hosted on-line as a Web page and the advertising creative is placed on one or more targeted Web pages.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates in general to Web-based advertising and, in particular, to a system and method for providing on-line user-assisted Web-based advertising. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Although the origins of the Internet trace back to the late 1960s, the more recently-developed Worldwide Web (“Web”) has revolutionized accessibility to untold volumes of information in stored electronic form. In particular, the Web provides an attractive opportunity to individual advertisers and businesses who wish to reach a potentially large audience at low cost. [0003] Effective on-line advertising through the Web requires some form of notice or announcement describing a product or service offering in a manner analogous to television, radio and printed media. On the Web, advertisements can be provided as Web pages, which can also contain hyperlinks to a virtual shopping cart, email addresses, and other helpful information. However, Web-based advertisements, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] Still other embodiments of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein are described embodiments of the invention by way of illustrating the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Problems solved by technology

Web-based advertising poses a unique set of challenges, particularly with respect to individual advertisers.

First, generating successful advertising creatives that effectively drive Web traffic requires significant time, effort and expertise.

The Web is primarily a printed medium and creatives must often fit within limited display space, which can be difficult for novice advertisers to achieve while still providing essential content.

Moreover, providing salient and relevant creatives can be challenging, particularly when a creative is displayed with other competing creatives and unrelated but distracting Web content.

Web-based advertisements are only effective if made available to a target pool of potential buyers.

Users can also find the selection of keywords challenging.

Placing creatives and advertisements on-line for access by the general Web community can be especially problematic for individual or small advertisers.

Advertising creatives must be integrated into other Web content to effectively drive Web traffic, but advertisers are generally not able to unilaterally add creatives to other Web pages.

Small advertisers may not have an online Web presence, and, therefore, traditional Web advertising that drives Web traffic to the Web site of the advertiser is not possible.

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